The Phantom Major

By: Virginia Cowles

Narrated by: Robert Whitfield

Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

In the dark and uncertain days of 1941 and 1942, when Rommel's tanks were sweeping towards Suez, a handful of daring raiders were making history for the Allies. They operated deep behind the German lines, often driving hundreds of miles through the deserts of North Africa. They hid by day and struck by night, destroying aircraft, blowing up ammunition dumps, derailing trains, and killing many times their own number.

These were the SAS, Stirling's desert raiders, the brainchild of a deceptively mild-mannered man with a brilliant idea. Small teams of resourceful, highly trained men would penetrate beyond the front lines of the opposing armies and wreak havoc where the Germans least expected it.

The Phantom Major is the classic account of these desert raids, an amazing tale of courage, impudence, and daring, packed with action and high adventure. An intimate record based on eyewitness accounts, this book still stands as the definitive history of the early years of the SAS.

(P)2001 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"This military story is ideally suited to audio: maps aren't necessary to follow its excitement, and the reader adds a pleasing dimension with his skill at accents, reminding us of whom the story is about." (AudioFile)

Brilliant story, brilliant narration

What can I say? Narrations do not get much better than this one.

An important, engaging story about little known desert warriors achieving important victories way out of proportion to military capital invested.

Really excellent and very listenable.

What a relief from the first sentences to know you’re in the hands of an author who is just going to tell a fine story without all the goofy melodrama of romantic intertwinings and background padding. I looked up Virginia and saw she was a ww2 correspondent. Makes sense. Fascinating story and some real insights into the very real personalities. Definitely recommended.

Will Hook You Before Page 2

This book starts out with a humorous account of a Scot sneaking into a general's office to finally get past the red tape and get an audience for his brilliant idea to sabotage Rommel's war in North Africa. There are other fun stories, such as the one where the unit (short on supplies) boldly enters the New Zealand camp in broad daylight and packs up their supplies including a grand piano. They justify this in their minds by saying the New Zealand Government takes better care of their soldiers and will replace all of the stolen property with better stuff.
This book is one of my favorites on WWII.

Excellent and extensive history of SAS

I would highly recommend book for anyone interested in WWII operations in Mediterranean North Africa and history of famous SAS unit’s and their adventures.

The Phantom Major

Excellent story and wonderful presentation using various voices and accents. Highly recommend this audio book.

Detailed and well written

This story tells the story of the founding of the SAS. The exploits and operation in North African Deserts of Egypt and Libya provides fascinating reading on how the training and missions were carried out.

An outstanding book.

This biography reads like a Boys Own adventure story. This book illustrates why a nation a quarter the size of Texas, is still in its own way the most respected and fiercely independent country in the world. What any other country requires a battalion to accomplish they still can do with a dozen men.

Understated hero

I have read many books on special ops. This book was extremely enlightening and that the birth of special ops really began with Phantom Major. Subsequently there are films made that are also enlightening. Well worth every second of listening.

The (British) RAT PATROL - it's all true!

I am so happy to discover the thrilling tales of "The Rat Patrol", I slavishly watched as a boy, were indeed based on the factual exploits of just such heroes driving just such vehicles with just such amazingly overpowered machine-guns mounted on them!

Yet, color me astounded to learn... the actual jeeps had not only one, but up to FOUR such guns mounted on them!

And, yes, when the jeeps sped past rows of German war machines, their guns did rip into them and made them explode...
...it seems sometimes the things you see on TV are true.

My only problem with this book is the same as with all history books.
I get so angry.
I learn of the stupid political egos making stupid battle plans far behind the fight that always go wrong killing scores of young men.
The horrendous needless pain, agony, and death - the loss of so many young lives.

“No politician will get injured in this, or in any other war.”
Captain Libby,
WWI Flying Ace.

Fascinating story of the human spirit and woes or warfare.

Most people have likely heard of the SAS. This story introduces us to the man whom stormed a base and busted in on a General to pitch the idea to. It follows him in the Devlopment of their doctrines and their raids. It covers almost all the raids. It also introduces us to some of the other LRDG big names.

The book is continuously shifting to first hand accounts and dialogue that really helps capture the Britishness of the SAS. The characters (as they should) come off as very real. Helps tune you into the way people just were back then. Some of the interactions between the SAS and German/Italians is quite humorous especially when you consider that these were guys behind enemy lines just bluffing their way past guards under a standing order that enemy saboteurs where to be executed.

It’s really a great book. Robert Whitfield sounds strikingly similar to a favorite reader with an English accent (wink wink). Don’t pass it up. Honestly can’t think of a bad thing to say about it.